Caroline’s going to have a great year in jr high…and her Mama will help her thru the highs and lows! You’re an awesome Mom and she’s an awesome daughter, so enjoy this first year filled with blessings…and some tears! BUT, you’ve got this! This could be a new book!

What a sweet picture of your little purple princess…so amazing how fast the time passes and all of us moms here can relate to what you are feeling. May you experience God’s grace today in a new way and may Caroline have a perfectly awesome school year!!

Hi Big Mama! I was absolutely terrified for my son Jack to start middle school last fall. He has Aspergers and is thus a little “quirky” making it challenging to form friendships and navigate both academic and social expectations. My stomach churned the first few months as I worried about how he would do. I prayed, wrung my hands, vented to husband and friends…….and then surprise!! He freaking loved it!!! He loves the thrill of changing classes, he loves that he doesn’t “stick out” because there are lots of kids with lots of issues. He loves that his teachers offer time during study hour to ask questions about the material they don’t understand. But most of all, it was a life lesson for me: sometimes we are just plain WRONG about the things we are sure are going to be disasters. God answers prayers and protects…and teaches us Mamas to be a little more faithful! Have a wonderful school year. Happy Fall!!! Susan

Same. Next Tuesday. My baby boy (by a long shot. Had him at 40 when my other baby was 18 yrs old) Not my first rodeo but my last. I’ve been sick to my stomach most of the last month. I don’t even have words.

My baby started his senior year last Monday. He was all cool about it and I was an emotional wreck thinking about it being the first “last day” of his last year and all the things that go alone with that. He’s our 4th child, so I guess I have the benefit of knowing what is ahead for him and for us. He asked me NOT to pack his lunch (said his girlfriend was doing that) (pbbbbbth), and then tried to wear a t-shirt and his swimsuit to school. In his defense (and I cannot even believe I’m defending him), it was a pair of board-shorts that look like regular shorts…but I BOUGHT THEM…I KNOW THEY ARE FOR SWIMMING.” Sheesh.. He said, “why are you getting so worked up about this?”

When my grandson turned 10 he said
“Nana……look how fast I got to 10…….I’ll get to 20 really fast too”
He is 18 now and a senior……seems like yesterday I was holding his had to cross the street.
He is still just as wise.

Oh, mama. Those are the tough ones. I have my youngest starting high school next week. My oldest is starting junior college. Ugh. In some ways I’m sooo happy to be through some of those tough years and in others, I just want them to be toddlers again. You are a great mom! Be strong.

ENJOY these years!!
My oldest baby (18) started his first day of college this morning!! Thankfully, he’s going to the Tarrant Community College 10 min away here in Fort Worh! He’s getting his Assoc in Criminal Justice, then attending the Police Academy.
Now my baby boy (17) started his first day of Speed Senior Year. We’ve always homeschooled & Sam did year-round his 8th-9th grade. SO, he will be graduating before Christmas! Then he’ll be at the same Community College for the Spring Semester. THEN, he THINKS he’s leaving me for Oklahoma Christian next Aug! I may duct-tape him to his bed 🙂
Treasure these next 6 years with your Caroline! I promise they go sooooo FAST!

I was going to say that our baby just celebrated his one year anniversary of real world work in June after graduating from college…and it doesn’t get any easier….and then I read #19 from Christine….and oh my…thank you for those whose babies serve our country! A mom’s heart just has to get bigger and bigger with the years! God’s blessings on all of you moms at all of the stages!! Keep sharing your stories! We need each other!!!!

It seems like yesterday that we were seeing her first day of school pictures & low & behold the most darling picture ever! My goodness the fairy outfit & that smile! You raised her right & daddy showed her how to handle a bow! And that smile when she was holding the snake! You’ve given her faith & self esteem to see her through the middle school years. Can be very turbulent times. Kathleen in Az

My daughter is an 8th grader this year, and thus far, her middle school experience has been so far above my expectations. I know some say it’s the worst time in their school years, but if she’s judicious in her choice of friends it can be fantastic. Hoping that’s how it is for both of you!

I took my oldest son to College Station yesterday where he’ll be a freshman at A&M. It went fairly well and was so glad I only shed a few tears and it didn’t turn into the ugly cry! After reading your blog for several years, I feel like I’ve gained some insight about A&M and it sounds like such a great place. I even went back through your blog to read up on any entries about good restaurants, stores, etc there. Thank you!

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Who is Melanie?

My name is Melanie and, in some strange twist of fate, I’m also known as Big Mama because I started this blog in July of 2006 when my daughter, Caroline, was not quite three years old and I was in the process of convincing her that BIG girls use the potty and BIG girls don’t have pacifiers, thus she thought BIG was the highest compliment in the land and began referring to me as BIG MAMA.